What does a material handling specialist do?

Warehouse associates are employees who take on any task needed at the company warehouse. They receive incoming deliveries, store the items in their proper places, scan the items to log them into the company system, manage stocks and inventory, conduct product inspection to check for damages or defects, and maintain the overall cleanliness of the warehouse. Warehouse associates are also responsible for receiving purchase orders, assembling and packing products related to orders, checking the accuracy of the products relative to the order, and ensuring proper shipment of the products.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, material handling specialist responsibilities require skills like "logistics," "data entry," "pallet jack," and "unload materials." Meanwhile a typical warehouse associate has skills in areas such as "pallets," "work ethic," "strong work ethic," and "customer service." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

A warehouse employee is responsible for assisting high-level operations of the warehouse or distribution centers, organizing merchandise inventory, packing and labeling products, operating warehouse tools and equipment, and processing shipment orders efficiently and accurately. Warehouse employees maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities to avoid potential hazards and delay during operations. They assist in loading and unloading items from delivery vehicles to different areas of the warehouse. A warehouse employee may also perform administrative duties, such as responding to customers' inquiries and concerns through calls and e-mails, resolving complaints, and writing reports.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that material handling specialist responsibilities requires skills like "safety procedures," "data entry," "shipping receiving," and "pallet jack." But a warehouse employee might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pallets," "customer service," "cleanliness," and "plumbing."

A warehouse technician is responsible for monitoring the incoming and outgoing goods and services in the warehouse or distribution centers. Warehouse technicians verify shipment details, assist with packaging items, move merchandise to storage areas, inspect the quality of items for release, and escalate defective products for immediate replacement. They also operate various warehouse equipment and machinery, conduct maintenance repairs, and loading and unloading items from the delivery trucks. A warehouse technician must have excellent time-management and organizational skills, especially on processing orders and creating reports for inventory receipts.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a material handling specialist is likely to be skilled in "pallet jack," "unload materials," "mhe," and "gross profit," while a typical warehouse technician is skilled in "customer service," "pallets," "warehouse environment," and "patients."

A warehouse attendant's role is to prepare and process products for shipments and deliveries, ensuring quality and accuracy. Typically, their responsibilities include receiving and locating orders, packing and labeling merchandise, loading and unloading delivery vehicles, inspecting the quality of products, monitoring the inventory, and maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a warehouse attendant, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness of work areas, all while keeping an active communication line with other warehouse staff for an efficient workflow.